THE CLEOPATRA SALVAGE SUIT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5351, 22 May 1878, Page 3

THE CLEOPATRA SALVAGE SUIT.

(From the Some News, March 23 ) Xu the Admiralty Division of the High Court of Justice, on March 5, the case of the Cleopatra came before Sir Robert Phillimore, sitting to hear motions. The action had been brought by Mr. John Dixon, the owner of the vessel and its cargo, against Messrs. Burrell and Sons, the owners of the steamship Fitz:’ maurioe, the salvors, for the purpose of obtaining a salvage award from the Court as early as possible. Mr. Clarkson, on behalf of the salvors, made an application that his lordship would direct that the Cleopatra and .the Needle should be appraised in the first Instance, and if it should be found necessary, that the vessel aud the Needle should he put up for sale by public auction. It was not, however, the wish of the defendants to do anything which might defeat the object ,of -Mr. Wilson in regard to the Needle. Sir Robert Phillimore said ha thought it would be very lamentable if such a step should be necessary. All that ; the defendants required was to get a reasonable value placed upon tbe : Needle and the; vessel. Mr. Clarkson said the plaintiff had put forward £250 in his statement of claim aa the value which should be put upon the Needle, and he would submit such a sum was trifling., -Sir Robert Phillimore said the difficulty was. in deciding who was the proper person to appraise the value. Perhaps the British Museum raightfurhish them with some person who would be able to do so. • Unless the parties could come to an agreement upon the matter the Court would have to have it appraised. , Who was on the other side ? Mr. Hollams said that the difficulty which the plaintiff had. experienced was as to what principle should be adopted in ascertaining the value of the Needle. It should be remembered that the plaintiff was; in a peculiar position in the matter, inasmuch as;be was the contractor for Mr. Wilson in bringing the Needle home: Sir Robert Phillimore pointed out that the real question beforethe Court was as to what steps should be adopted in order to ascertain the value of this work of art,. which had been preserved from destruction 1 by the salvors.' -Mr. Hollams said that the plaintiff, in his reply to the defendant’s statement 1 of defence, had said he was willing to consent to a proper appraisement of the Needle if the Court should;consider it necessary. Mr. Clarkson said his clients would be qnite willing to leave his lordship to decide who was a proper person to appraise the value. Mr. Hollams consented to that course on behalf of the plaintiff. Sir Robert Phillimore said if in the course of the day the parties should not agree upon the question, he would nominate a person himself. The subject then dropped. Sir Robert Phillimore, after the adjournment, said he had, at the-request of the parties in the case, himself considered wbnt should be the value placed upon this strange ship and cargo, and by the best lights he could bring to bear upon the subject he would fix the joint value of the ship and cargo at £25,000. ,■?